Mechanical stoker.



F. C. FOSDICK.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.18, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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P. o. PosmoK.

r MECHANICAL STOKBR.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 18, 1912. 1,059,697'u Patented Mar. 1o, 1914L 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLAN nu l Co AslnvaruN u n.

SATB@ PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. FOSDICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK C. Fosnicit, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Stokers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical stokers adapted to feed fuel into furnaces; and it is particularly adapted to handle coal of all grades of coarseness, and to distribute the coal upon the grate so as to feed the tire in the most efficient manner.

It has been found in the use of mechanical stokers that difficulty arises in properly distributing the coal. The tendency of the ordinary steker is to deliver more coal at some particular places upon the grate than is required, and to deliver too small an amount of coal in other places. As a consequence, portions of the bed of coal receive too little air and other portions receive too much, fuel being thereby wasted and the capacity of the furnace materially reduced.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for overcoi'ning these difficulties. This result is brought about by the use of a fuel-transporting conduit which projects into the furnace and which is provided with manual means whereby the fuel-outlet opening of the conduit may be changed in position and direction so that the distribution of the fuel is at all times under the full control of the fireman.

It has also been found that in the use of mechanical stokers the draft is more or less interfered with by the stoker. To avoid this I have provided a stoker so constructed that t-he passageways through which the fuel passes are closed or substantially closed during the time when the stoker is in operation, and so that the conduit through which the fuel passes into the lire-place is entirely closed when the stoker is not in operation.

It has also been found that the intense heat of the tire tends to injure the portions of the stoker which project into the furnace; and this is particularly so with a stokcr which is adapted to project a substantial distance into the furnace in order to distribute the fuel properly. To prevent this I have provided means whereby the more sensitive portions of the projecting end of the stoker may be withdrawn, when the stoker is not in use, suiliciently so as to prevent danger of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 18, 1912.

"atented Mar. 10, 191.4.

Serial No. 726,462.

injury; and as a further precaution in this regard I have provided means for closing the fuel outlet, when the stoker is not in use, thereby preventing the heat from reaching the portions of the stoker which are likely to be injured thereby.

.Another object of the invention is to provide means for imparting sutlicicnt kinetic energy to the fuel to cause it to pass at high speed through the fuel conduit into the tireplace, and thus to pass out of the conduit into the tire-place under its own momentum, and in this way to be forced, under the control of the operator, to the portion of the tire-place where needed. It has been found that this method of feeding and distributing allows fuel of any reasonable degree of coarseness to be used and distributed where desired. It is immaterial what the size of the piece of coal may be; it will be carried by its momentum through the conduit and to the point desired, as the distance which such a .moving mass will travel depends on its speed and not on its size. As a colisequence the small particles and large masses of coal are uniformly distributed Athrough out the fire-place; while, as is well known, stokers using other methods for deliveringl the fuel tend to segregate the smaller par ticles from the larger, thereby distributing the fuel inetliciently.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical stoker which is especially adapted for use upon locoI-notives; which shall be applicable to existing locomotives without requiring any alteration of the furnace; and which shall be capable of being quickly disconnected from the furnace and moved aside in case hand-striking becomes necessary or desirable.

In the accomjninying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mechanical Stoker which embodies the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stoker. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the stoker along the lines 3 3 Il of Fig. l. Fig. -t is a vertical transverse section of the Stoker along the lines Zt hlt of Fig. l.. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fireplace end of the stoker conduit. Fig. G is a horizontal longitudinal section of the forward portion of the stoker conduit delivering fuel. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the fire-place end of the conduit delivering fuel.

The stoker comprises in general a hopper for receiving the coal and passing it into the center chamber of a. rotating cylinder. The cylinder is inclosed by a cylindrical casing, the inner surface of which is adjacent the outer surface of the rotating cylinder. The cylinder has a passageway from its central. chamber to its outer surface, through which the fuel is forced by the centrifugal action of the rotating cylinder; and it is thus forced at high speed through an opening in the casing into a horizontal conduit and through the conduit into the combustion chamber. The conduit, which projects into the furnace, may be extended a greater or lesser distance therein, and the path of motion of the fuel therethrough may be varied, so that the fuel may be forced to pass out of the conduit in any direction desired and thus be distributed where needed.

rllhe fuel is placed in the hopper 10 by any suitable means and at any convenient time, and rests upon a slide 11 in the lower part of the hopper. lVhen it is desired to feed fuel into the furnacev the slide 11 is withdrawn by some suitable means such as the slide handle 12, and coal is allowed to flow for the desired length of time into the hopper passageway 13 and into the central chamber of the cylinder 11i. This cylinder is mounted on ball-bearings 15 in the cylindrical casing 16 and is free to rotate therein. Connecting the central portion of the cylinder with the exterior is a passageway, the outer end of which is open and moves ad-y jacent to the inner surface of the cylindrical casing 16 as the cylinder rotates.

The cylinder may be rotated by any suitable means. -ferein l have shown ay twocylinder steam engine 18 which is adapted to operate a shaft 19, and thus, by means of connecting gearing, rotate the cylinder in the direction and at the speed desired. The supply of steam to the engine 18 is controlled by a foot-operable valve 18a. This valve may be detachably connected to a pipe supplying steam from the locomotive boiler.

llearrthe upper surface of the casing 16 is an opening 20, and tangentially connected to the casing is a tube 21. The tube 21 is the rear end of a fuel-transporting conduit 22 which is mounted horizontally on the frame 23, and which connects the opening 20 of the casing 16 with the furnace 23a. This conduit comprises two tubes 21 and 2st, an extensible false bottom 25, and extensible false sides 26. Portions of the vertical sides of the tube 24E are cut away and the openings closed by inner plates 24a rigidly attached to said tube. In practice, the tube 2a extends to a point within the furnace door-way. 0n each side of the tube 24 are plates 24h to close the spaces between the sides of the tube 24 and the sides of the doorway. The space above the tube 24 is closed by a door* 2de hinged to the furnace door frame. The tubes 21 and 24: are at all times stationary with reference to the stoker as a whole. But the bottom 25 and sides 26 are slidably mounted between the walls of the two tubes and are adapted to be slid forward a substantial distance into the furnace.

Any suitable mea-ns may be provided for sliding the false bottom and sides forward and backward. The means which I have provided for the purpose comprises a fluid pressure cylinder 27 inclosing a piston, the piston rod 28 of which is connected to a lug 29 projecting downwardly from the bottom 25. rEhe piston within the cylinder may be forced to either end of the cylinder by passing steam or other gas under pressure into the proper end of the cylinder through the valve 29a. When, for instance, steam is ad mitted into the right-hand end of the cylinder the piston is forced toward the left and the false bottoni is slid forward into 0perative position in the furnace. lWhen the bottom is thus moved forward it moves with it the false sides. VThe means which l have provided to accomplish this are the following: At the forward end of the false'bottom is pivcted a horizontal disk 31, the upper surface of which is approximately flush with the upper surface of the falsebottom (as shown in Fig. 5) and the lower surface of which is approximately flush with the lower edges of the false sides. Extending around this disk and connecting the lower edges of the false sides is a series of hinged sections forming a chain 32. When the false bottom is slid forward, this chain is forced forward by the disk, and the sides are drawn forward by the chain. Atthe end of the false bottom is an arcuate flange 31a, which with the disk 81 forms a groove within which the chain lies. As the bottom is moved backward this flange pushes backward the chain and the false sides. So that the sides always move with the bottom.

When the bottom and sides have been moved forward in operating position, in order to distribute the fuel to all points upon the grate it is desirable to vary the direction at which the fuel passes out of the end of the conduit. I have provided the following means for this purpose: 0n the upper side of the conduit on each side, and fixed to a ange or rib 26a on the false side by means of the bolts 33, is a toothed rack 34k (Fig. 4) which is adapted to slide with the false side along the guide 35. A slot 34a is formed in the plate 24a and theV tube 24e, at each side of the conduit, to accommodate the movement of the ribs 26a. A plate 36 is slidably mounted upon the tube 24C, between the racks 34;, and pivoted to this plate is a gear wheel 37 which meshes with each of the racks. An arm 38 is fixed to and adapted to rotate the gear wheel 37. Vhen the wheel, by means of this arm, is rotated, the rack and false side at one side of the conduit are slid forward and the rack and false side on the other side are slid backward. The forward ends of the false sides 2G are lexible, being composed of hinged sections 30; and when a false side QG is moved forward, its forward portion is flexed or bent around the disk 3l, as indicated in Fig. 6. In this manner the forward end of either side may be curved around the disk, and the direction of the out-let of the conduit may be thus Varied at the will of the operator. The extreme forward end of each side 2G consists of a section 30LL which is longer than the sections composing the llleidble side walls 30. Vhen one of the sides 2G is advanced into the position shown in Fig. o, the section 80 of that side extends at a right angle to the conduit, and assists to guide the stream of coal in making a rightangular change of direction. Pivoted to each of the vertical sides of the fixed tube Q-.l is a wing 39, which is adapted to be swung inwardly so as to vary the path of the fuel through the conduit. Normally the wing lies` against the side of the tube.V On the free end of the wing is a cam surface i0 extending outwardly from the side of the tube. As the false side is drawn away from the furnace, a cam or wedge il on said side is brought in contact with the cam end 40, thus forcing the wing inwardly, as indicated in Fig. (3. In this manner the path of the fuel is moved toward the other side of lthe conduit for the purpose hereinafter 1nentioned.

The forward end of the tube 24C extends beyond the end of the false bottom and sides when they are withdrawn outwardly, and a door 4t2, horizontally hinged to the upper sid@ of the tube Q11-, is adapted to close the end of the conduit when the false bottom and sides are thus withdrawn. When, however, the bottom and sides are forced forward they come in contact with the door and force the door open, as indicated in Fig. 2y this means the conduit is closed when not in operation so as to prevent any draft` entering the furnace tl'irongh the conduit and to prevent heat from the fire from injuring the` movable portions of the conduit. If desired, the door 42 may be wcight ed, shown, so lthat a draft shall not cause the door to swing open.

The easing 1G and the framework 2% are rigidly connected in a suitable way, as by connecting pieces 411-, and may be mounted on rollers 45 so that the stoker may, if de sired, be moved back lto permit of handfiring.

ln practice the operation of the stoker is as follows: The hopper l0 is maintained more or less full of coal, and the engine 1S is preferably lt'ept running continuously. When it is desired to feed the lire, the speed of the engine is increased, the valve 29 is operated to advance the false bottom Q5 and sides 2G, the slide ll is pulled outwardly, coal passes into the central chamber of the rotating cylinder lll, and the fuel is forced outwardly through the passageway 17. As the outer opening of the passageway 17 registers with the opening 20 to the conduit, the fuel, by centrifugal action, is forced into the conduit, the backward inclination of the passageway assisting in this process, the rear wall el?, driving the fuel with a high speed forward through the conduit. If it is desired to throw the fuel into the righthand side of the eombustiim chamber, the gear wheel 37 is rotated as indicated `in Fig, t3, and the fuel passes through the opening ill toward the right. ln the backward movement of the right-hand false side the right-hand wing 3E) is forced inwardly, thus forcing the fuel, toward the left-hand Side and causing it to pass outwardly through t-he opening fifi less obstructed by the end section 30 of the l tz-hand false side than would be the caso if the fuel passed Straight through the conduit and struck squarely against the section 30% By rotating the gear wheel 37 the outlet Ll-llmay be shifted toward the front end of the conduit, and, if desired, straight forward and toward the left so as to distribute the fuel evenly upon the grate, it being umlerstood that fuel passes out of the outlet Zlll with sufficient speed to carry portions of it to thc most ren'lote points of the grate. l/Vhen su'llicient coal has been discharged into the furnace, the slide 'll is closed` and after the cylinder' llt has discharged all the coal supplied to it the engine i8 may be slowed down.

ly keeping' the engine always in operation. the cylinder llt may be quickly speeded up to the desired rate of rotation when fuel is to be supplied to the fire.

The fireman may observo the condition of the fire at any time upon raising the door lll-1.

lt will be noted that th i apparatus is selfcontained. requires no reconstructiol1 of the furnace, is at all times under the control of the fireman, is not subject to injury by the heat of the combustion chamber, and is of such size and character that it may be supported upon the deck of the locomotive without inconvenience to the engineman.

.Although l have shown by the drawings and described herein specific mechanism throughout for the purpose of clearncss, yet it is to be understood that modifications in the structure may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the following claims, and that the invention is not limited to locomotive furnaces.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace, means for projecting fuel at high speed into said conduit, means for varying the path of motion of said fuel while in said conduit, said means comprising wings pivoted to the interior sides of said conduit, and means for varying the path of motion of said fuel as it leaves said conduit, the last mentioned means being arranged to operate said wings.

2. In a mechanical stolzer, a fuel-transporting conduit adapted to project into a furnace, the sides of the discharge end of said conduit being slidably mounted, means for sliding one of said sides outwardly and the other of said sides inwardly, and means for turning the end of the outwardly slid side toward the other side, whereby the conduit opening may be faced in different directions.

3. In a mechanical Stoker, a fuel-transporting conduit adapted to project into a furnace, the sides of the discharge end of said conduit being slidably mounted and flexible, means for sliding one of said sides outwardly and the other of said sides inwardly, and means for flexing said outwardly slid side toward the other side, whereby the position of the conduit opening is changed.

4t. In a mechanical stolzer, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace, the sides of the discharge end of said conduit being slidably mounted, means for sliding one of said sides outwardly and the other inwardly, said means comprising a toothed rack operatively connected to each of said sides, a gear wheel meshing with each of said racks, and means for rotating said gear wheel.

5. In a mechanical stoler, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace, a plurality of hinged sections in each side wall of the furnace end of said conduit, a disk pivoted at the end of said conduit and extending horizontally between said walls, the end section of each of said sides being fixed to said disk, and means for rotating said disk.

6. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace, said conduit having a false bottom and false flexible sides, means for extending said bottom and sides beyond the outlet end of said conduit,

and means for flexingr the inner end of one of said sides toward the other side.

7. In a mechanical Stoker, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace, said conduit having a false bottom and false sides, means for extending said bottom and sides beyond the outlet end of said conduit, and means for moving one of said sides backward and the other forward.

8. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel conduit, means for passing fuel into one end of Vsaid conduit, means for closing the other end of said conduit, said conduit having a false bottom and false liexible sides, means for extending said false bottom and sides so as to open and to project beyond said other end, means for flexing the inner end of one of said sides toward the other side.

9. In a mechanical Stoker, a fuel-transporting conduit adapted to project into a furnace, the sides of said conduit being flexible, means for sliding one side inwardly, and

means for flexing the inner end of said side toward the other side.

10. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel-transe porting conduit adapted to project into a furnace, the sides of said conduit being flexible, means for sliding one side inwardly, and means for flexing the inner end of said side toward the other side, said flexing means comprising a wheel rotatably mounted in the bottom of the discharge end of said conduit, and a chain passing around said wheel and connected to the inner ends of saidsides.

1l. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel conduit adapted to project into a furnace the sides of the discharge end of said conduit being slidably mounted, means for sliding one of said sides outwardly and the other inwardly, said means comprising a toothed rack opera tively connected to each of said sides, and a gear wheel meshing with each of said racks, said wheel and racks being positioned on the top of said conduit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. FOSDICK.

vWitnesses J. C. DEvroK, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL.

Copiers of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

